Readers weigh in on their favorite sculptures

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned my favorite sculpture in the area and asked readers if they had favorites that others might not always know about.

One reader was ecstatic over the fact that I had picked "Natural Wonders," one tucked away in Mount St. Mary Park in St. Charles, because that one has been her favorite all along as well.

But a few other names were passed along.

One was the "Nick Bottom" statue outside of the Geneva Public Library. It is an interesting piece of art, displaying this character from Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." And, of course, it is fitting that Nick is reading a book, despite his famous donkey head.

Another mentioned was the Dellora A. Norris sculpture at the St. Charles Municipal Center.

It is my understanding that this sculpture is made to scale, meaning Dellora was a rather short lady.

For those maybe new to the area, you should know that Lester and Dellora Norris spent their lives making St. Charles a better place to live, sharing their good fortune so that this town truly became the "Pride of the Fox."

The Arcada Theatre, the original Delnor Hospital, St. Charles East High School and the Norris Cultural Arts Center, and St. Charles Country Club, all have the family fingerprints all over them. And there is much more the family foundation has done in St. Charles.

So, when you walk past the statue of Dellora at the municipal center, you might just want to say, "thanks."

Going for the ice:

When the Chicago Blackhawks are really good, and that's been the norm for the past eight years or so, it has an affect on the backyards of some people.

You see more ice rinks. Some are pretty fancy and others simple, but functional. More of these "home ice" setups go up now as opposed to those years when hockey was far below the radar around here - kind of like NFL football is now.

Climb that playground:

The Stephen Persinger Recreation Center in Geneva has a new addition coming next year - an outdoor playground.

"The best way to describe it is a 'climbing' playground," Traci Wicks, park district marketing director, said about the various rope climbing apparatus that will be part of the new park.

The park district continues to work with the architect and the park board to determine the best location for the new park, but it will be located for easy access from the nearby soccer fields or the recreation center, Wicks said.

"It will be great for all of the camps that operate out of the building in the summer," Wicks added. "It is just a nice feature for an outdoor playground."

It is one of many projects the Geneva Park District Foundation lists as needing support from donors who help the district reach its goals.

Wonderful aroma:

I'm not a coffee drinker, but the aromas at coffee shops certainly are tempting. None more so than the Coffee Drop Shop at The Berry House in Geneva.

You have to assume they have some darn good coffee in this place if the aroma is any indication.

Either way, it is a pleasant place to stop at during the holidays - and probably any time of the year if you love your coffee.

Call to arms:

So, what was going through my father's mind on this day 75 years ago - and a dozen years before he even became my father?

When hearing about Pearl Harbor, what was the first thought that went through the minds of young men just finishing up high school? Were they ready to run to military recruitment offices, or did any of them first sense they might die on the beaches of Europe or the jungles of the Philippines because of what just happened?

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says only 620,000 of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II were still alive as this year started. That number dwindles by the day.

We still have some who can say what they were thinking that day, though my late father is not one at this point.

It's hard to imagine the stress and concern that had to envelop families in those days, and still occurs today for those stationed in the Middle East.

We can only say that we won't forget to continue honoring those who fell at Pearl Harbor on this day in 1941.

dheun@sbcglobal.net